The Benefits Of Going Camping With A Newborn

Is camping with a newborn really that bad? Is there any reason why you shouldn’t take your newborn on a camping trip?

To be totally honest with you, I can actually think of more reasons to take him, than not to take him.

But it’s all personal preference, we all have our own opinions.

In this article I will be talking about the dos and don’ts, the benefits of taking your newborn, and then letting you decide if taking your newborn on a camping trip will be for you or not.

Without wasting anymore time, let’s get right into things!

Me After A Whole Day Of Exploring 😛

Is It Safe? Should You Do It?

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Of course it isn’t safe, but everything you do on a daily basis isn’t safe anyway. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t complete a successful camping trip.

What you already know and what you don’t know all depends on the end result and the overall experience you will have.

So to answer this question, you should go with your child IF you are experienced in the wilderness.

If you aren’t, I would highly recommend you get some outdoor knowledge and experience before you even THINK about taking a newborn with you.

I would also like to mention – do not keep him in the sun for too long, you want to keep his porcelain skin safe from sunburn as much as possible.

So be sure to keep sunblock on him at all times as well.

Keeping him warm is also a must. Even though it might be hot during the daytime for us, babies can feel the cold a lot easier than we do – and that’s especially true at nighttime.

At night, the air gets chilly, and most of the time it happens fast.

So have the fire roaring and your newborn wrapped up – keeping him warm, but not overheated.

The Beauty Of Nature

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One of the most wondrous things about camping with your newborn is watching him take in all the scenery, the sights and the smells of nature.

Your child will absolutely love watching the trees sway side to side, the bright green colors, and the lovely new smells.

Furthermore, take him by the river, let him see the beauty and hear the sounds that mother nature offers.

Your day will brighten up as you watch your child concentrate on the flow of the river, while the white noise relaxes him and enhances brain stimulation.

Honestly, you will love every moment of it as well. You know you are doing something good for your child and that will make you happy 🙂

Bed Time

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It is vital that you keep your baby at the best temperature at nighttime. He will let you know if he’s cold anyway, so if you can’t guess why he’s crying, there’s a good chance that he just needs another blanket or two.

Don’t fret too much about where he will sleep either – on an air mattress is completely fine. However, just remember to keep his face clear of sleeping bags, blankets, and pillows.

He might move around in the night, causing his arms to break free from his blankets, resulting in cold hands! So I highly recommend putting baby mittens on him just in case this does happen.

To be on the extra safe side, I prefer to use two sleeping pads, just to ensure there is adequate insulation between your child and the cold ground.

The Morning

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The morning glow (from the sun) that comes into your tent will brighten up your babies face. He will absolutely love every second of it – and he has every right to! Because it’s simply amazing.

Not to mention when you take him out of the tent and into MOTHER NATURE. I mean, what baby wouldn’t love that?

Waking up to the trees swaying in the wind, bright colors that he never usually sees – watching your newborn respond to everything in the morning is truly one of the best moments of camping if you ask me!

The Benefits

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According to Dr. Denise Shushan, of Seattle Children’s Hospital, early infancy is all about learning, brain stimulation’s, visualizations, etc.

All the different smells, sights, sounds, and even temperatures will actually activate brain stimulation, ENHANCE their reflexes, and forge their personality – all of these benefits are GUARANTEED to last a lifetime!

Of course, there’s no way for him to remember any of this, but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to help him learn and grow, because it absolutely will!

What Do You Need To Bring

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I really like how a newborn doesn’t need as much items as an older kid 😛

All you really need is your babies duffel bag and basic supplies – but pack accordingly of course.

Depending on how many nights you plan on staying will depend on how much diapers and clothes you will need to take.

Clothes, diapers, blankets, socks, mittens, these are what you need to bring.

However, I recommend disposable diapers just to make everything a lot easier for you.

A good camping chair is a MUST if you want somewhere to sit and nurse your child. This will become your new “home base” while you are out in the wilderness 🙂

A front baby pack is also needed for when you are sitting around the campfire or viewing nearby landscapes.

That’s really all you need to bring, but of course you can take baby toys and things like that just to keep him busy when you’re getting lunch and/or dinner ready.

Conclusion

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You see, camping with a newborn is not that bad after all.

Even though your friends and family might not agree with it, is it really their life? Is your child theirs? No, and no.

It is your life, and if you think you have enough experience in the wilderness, to know your priorities and to keep you and your child safe at ALL times, then by all means take your child camping with you.

Trust me, it will stimulate their mind and help with their learning, all of which will last a lifetime! I can tell you that much.

Enjoyed this article? Leave a comment below!

1. Have you ever thought about taking your baby, or even a newborn camping?

2. Did your family agree with you or did they try and make you change your mind?

I would love to hear your stories!

Otherwise, you’ll definitely enjoy these baby camping tips on adventurousparents.com.

Cheers!

 

-Brandon

Camping Mastery